Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



I J, F. ocoNNoR, Fmm oN SHoQK AesoRslNG MEcHANIsM.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l Fl LED Nov, l2, 1921 l vJ, F, O'COWOR. l Fmc'rvloluSHocx Assonamc Mecs-m15 Fuso Nov, l2. 192|. Zanzzrsjsuen 2 Z9 Z5 'l5 n y-A By 5% Patented Dec. 19, 1922.

"UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE.V

. JOHN F. OCONNOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO kWILLIAIVI H.MINER, OF

i CHAZY, NEW YORK. p

FRICTION `S.ROCK-A1350*RBING MECHANISM.

Application filed November` 12, 1921.' Serial No.' 514,458.

Be it known that I, JOHN F'. OConnon, a' citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illilnois, haveinvented a certain. new and useful Improvement in FrictionShock-Absorbing Mechanisms, of which the following is a full, clear,concise, vand exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawl0 ings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvementsin friction shock absorbingmechanisms.

` The main object of the invention is'to provide a friction shockabsorbing mechanism especially adapted for railway draft riggingswherein are obtained high capacity combined with anv easy release. yMore specifically, the object of the invention is to provide a frictionshock vabsorbing mechanism wherein are employed` friction plungers witha friction gripping arrangement therefor so designed that the grippingeffect -will be automatically and easily reduced to insure release, whenthe actuating 26 load is removed from the plungers.

In the drawing forming a partfof this specification, Figure 1 is ahorizontal, longitudinal, sectional view of a portion of a railway draftrigging showingfmy Aimprovements in connection therewith. Figures 2 and3 are verticali, transverse, sectional views corresponding to the lilies2 2 and 3 3 respectively, 'of Figure l1, Figure 3 being upon an enlargedscale and illust-rating the shock absorbing mechanism proper, only.Figure 4 is a broken, longitudinal, vertical, sectional viewcorresponding substantially to the line i-L1A of Figure 3. Figures 5,Gand 7 are detail perspectives of one of vthe friction grippingelements, one of theV liners, andfone of the friction plungers,respectively.

In said drawings, 10-10 denote channel draft sills of a car underframeto' the inner faces of which are secured front stop lugs 11-11 and rearstop lugs 12-12. A portion of a drawbar is indicated at 13, thesamebeing operatively associated with the shock absorbingmechanismproper by a hooded cast yoke 14 and coupler key 15. The shock absorbingmechanism proper, together with the frontmain followerl are disposedwithin the yoke and the yoke with the parts therewithin isrheld inoperative vposition by a detachable saddle plate 17. f

- The improved shock absorbing mechanism proper, as shown, comprises,broadly, a coml F g an auxiliary spring G; and a retainer The casting Ais of generally rectangular hollow box-like form having upper and lowerhorizontal walls 18418 united at their rear ends by an integral verticalwall 19 which acts as the rearfollowerof the mechanis'rn,`and side walls20--20 which are relatively short soas to leave the major portion of thesidesv of the cast-ing `A open to admit ofthe insertion and removal ofthe springs and certain of the otherparts.A At its forward or front end,the casting A has the side walls recessed on their inner faces asindicated at21--21 to accommodate shouldered friction liner plates22-22, the latterproviding interior longitudinally extending frictionsurfaces 23-23- It will benoted that the casting A combines a frictionshell and spring cage and is adapted to act as a follower and also totransmit load to the sills as a column.

As bestl shown in Figures 1 and 1, the casting A is provided on theinterior thereof with a vertically extending integral wall or partit-ion2-1 and forwardly of said partition 24, the upper and lower walls 18 ofthe casting are provided on their inner sides with forwardly convergingwedge-acting ribs 25--25 symmetrically disposed with respect to thecenter line of the mechanism.

Said wedge ribs 25 are provided to cooperate with the two frictiongripping elements lil-E, the details of which are best illustrated inFigure 5. Said elements E are of like construction and each is providedon its outer side with a longitudinally extending friction surface 26and on the inner side with a semi-cylindrical pocket or recess 27 toaccommodate the spring G. Near its inner end, each element E is formedwith an inwardly extending transverse web or flange 28, said flanges 28providing rear abutments for the spring G, Above and below the springpocket provided in each element E, are formed .wedge faces 29-29 adaptedto engage with the wedge ribs 25.

The springv G is seated at its rear end on the flanges 28 ,as justdescribed, and its forward is h y the fo power-lf the youter faceofiitlien lalltidrldheing akiiiroxlmtitely with the end of the castingA. Said spring mentslelong thewedge ribs25 in a.

follower F is held in position by the retainer bolt Hwhich is'ianchoredat one end -tosaid` follower F and at its other end to the 'perti` tion24. f As will be understood bypthosqe skilled in they art., the springis under an initial compression and consequently will a1- ways tend toforce the friction gripping eletroc: tontoward the rear or, inner endkof the casting A, this. movement. also having an out- Ward or` laterallcon'iponent tending to press the elementsfE more tightly against thefriction plungers D which, as clearlyv shown in Eigures 1 andfl., areinterposed between said elements E and the friction liners 22.

Eaeh ofthe friotion `:plunge'rs D is` of heavy plate-like,constructionof rectangular cross section," each plunger having .an outwardlyVturned, shouldered, flange .aty its inner end adapted .to engageybehind the shouldered inner end of the .corresponding liner 22.VVithfthis construction, Lthe ,outward movement oftheplungers Dislimited Withrespect to the ,casting A, as will be understood.. Inactualfpractice, the plungers .Dywill be `made slightly tapered, `the,outer .30 a ,withthe liners 22extendingpreferahly parallel to the centerline of the mechanism, the

friction Surfaces 31 thereof which cooperate inner surfaces 32heinginclined slightly out-l wardly andof course the 7friction surfaces26H01` the elements E being correspondingly slightly inclined. y

vThe inner endsot'the plungers Drest i upon the main spring follower C?and Ithe `still 'further along the wedge ribs 25.

` latter mayalsobe limited in its outward `movementwith respect to `thecasting A `hy engagement with the partition. 24: at@ its center and byengagement with shoulders .B3- 33 formedon the interior of-thefrictionshell proper.

VThe operation is as follows, assuming an inward or huing movement ofthe drawbar. As the follower .16 .moves inwardly `under the hailingmovement, the plungers D are `movedi simultaneously and .uniformly:there- `with.

Such movement is of course directly resisted b the main springs B-Bvacting through t e follower C. :lnasmuch as the frictiongrippingelements are under the influence of.` the spring Gr, asheretofore describedfthe plunger .D willbe frictionally gripped as themovement ofthe plungers D` continues f inwardly. This gripping eect willbe automatically augmented as the plungers movey inwardly, inasmuch-.asthe frictional drag hetweenthe plungersD and the elements Ewillftendtomove thellatter lIf the plungers yD kare tapered,asheretofore referred to, therewill 'bea` slight outward Vmovement ofthe frictionfelementsfE due-to movement of the elements pared with therelatively light spring G,

wouldhe enabled to "force `the plungers D outwardly inasmuch as thefritiongripping elements` E, even if "f froalenv'fgi; frictionally stuckto ltlieplungers. QD, Sanride outwardly. @lees .the Welse ribs 2e een# latt-i011 0f th. .light series. G .ufritlhe mrssure oir theplirngers hasbeen greatlyfreduced ,and the fiitional grip.` between ,t e elements. E`ndt-,he plungers te .Plungers D; itbereiter. ,-mevleg, eetwarrly nattewithout, furthermovemeut. ef.the .eleiteuts n. asjwiu the @emanati@heeft 31nd inl the. art,[theactu'ffil amount of. outward willheexalways maintain :the,elearenilei if t ,with the plungers Dandthuscoinpensate` pr ,any

weer en the Venaus, .ffiemenuraees- By emnlvyingthetwo plussers messedas Shown, I; am; enabled At,. i0.l ai1i feureets of friction surfaces ofrelatively'large area ythus I.producing high fritenelf 1enmity WithoutSwifcesithe easy nelease ,feat re.

l havehereingshown and described W Yat I u now` ,consider thepreferredpmannerf tremely slight. It will furlhlfmfllbe xiqted l .thatthe spring G automatica l Serves ,t0

carrying ,outtheinventiom butthevsameis V merely illustrative and. I.,eentemplate all ,changes andmodications that come within ithescopeoftthelelaims appended hereto.

l claim: o. n l. Ina friction shock,.ab'sorbingmechanism, thecombination` Vwitha follower-.actingfmember provided with :frictionsurfaces; of a mainspring resistance; a pluralityof longitudinallymovable friction plungers,

Veach cooperable with oneoffsaid friction surfaces; frictionVe1ementsone forand cooperahle with'each plungertandopposed to i thefriction 'surface with which theplunger cooperates, `said frictionelements-having wedge `faces; Wedge `shoulders on said mem,- bercooperable withithe wedgefaces ofsaid elements; and relatively light`capacity spring means cooperable .with saidfriction elementsnormallyitending to `forcetheilatter n along 'the Wedge Shoulders tofriction' `ally gril) the plulgers.

'2.VIn a friction shockiuahsorbingptnechan:

nism, the combination with a hdlloW-ffric- Y tion `shell lhavin'gu'a`pirfof opposed-lon 'itudfinally extendmg friction.' surfaces on' t innerside thereof,`one on eahsidewofthie center lnegofarmainspringresistance; vM

pair of longitudinally -movable friction plungers, vone on each side ofthc center line and each engaging with a friction surface of the shell;a pair of friction gripping elements interposed between said plungersand each cooperable with a plunger, each of said elements having a wedgeface; wedge shoulders on said friction shell cooperable with the wedgefaces of said elements, said wedge shoulders and faces diverginginwardly of the shell; and spring means cooperable with i said frictiongripping elements normally able with said plungers and located betweenCSO the latter,- a spring cooperable with said wedge-friction elements;a spring follower engaging the outer end of said last named spring; anda retainer bolt extending between said'follower and anchored to saidpartition.

4. vIn a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with ahollow friction shell having opposed longitudinally extending frictionsurfaces on the interior thereof on opposite sides of the center line;of a pair of plungers frictionally cooperable with said shell frictionsurfaces; main spring `resistance yieldingly resisting rela-- tivemovement between said plungers and the shell; a pair of frictiongripping elements interposed between said plungers, said elements andshell having cooperable wedge faces diverging inwardly of the shell; anda spring common to both of said friction gripping elements normallytending to move the latter inwardly long the wedge faces.

o 5. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with afollower-acting member provided with friction surfaces; of a main springresistance; a plurality of longitudinally movable friction plungers,each cooperable with one of said friction surfaces; friction elements,one for and cooperable with each plunger and opposed to the frictionsurface with which the plunger cooperates, said friction elements havingwedge faces; wedge shoulders onV said member cooperable with the wedgefaces of said elements; relatively light capacity spring meanscooperable with said friction elements normally tending to force thelatter along the wedge shoulders to frictionally grip the plungers; andcooperable shoulders on said plunger and the followeracting memberlimiting the outward movement of the plungers with respect to thefollower-acting member.

6. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with acasting having a friction shell at one end thereof and an internallyformed spring cage, said shell having interior longitudinally extendingfriction surfaces on the opposite sides thereof; a main springresistance within the spring cage; a pair of friction plungers on'opposite sides of the center line and each cooperable with a shellfriction surface; a main spring follower interposed between said mainspring resistance and the inner ends of the plungers; a. pair offriction gripping elements located between the plungers and eachcooperable with a plunger, said elements and shell having cooperablewedge faces diverginginwardly of the shell; and spring means cooperablewith said elements normally tending to move the latter inwardly of theshell.

7. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with acasting having a friction shell at one end thereof and an integrallyformed spring cage, said shell having interior longitudinally extendingfriction surfaces, on the opposite sides thereof; a main springresistance within the spring cage; a pair of friction plungers onopposite sides of the center line and each cooperable with a shellfriction surface; a main spring follower interposed between said mainspring resistance and the inner ends of the plungers; a pair of frictiongripping elements located between the plungers and each cooperable witha plunger, said elements and the shell having cooperable wedge facesdivierging inwardly of the shell; and spring means cooperable with saidelements normally tending to move the latter inwardly of the shell, saidspring means being housed within said elements and having an outerfollower cooperable. therewith anchored to the casting.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 28th day of Oct., 1921.

JOI-IN F. OCONNOR.

Witnesses:

vUNA C. GRIGsBY,

ANN BAKER.-

